Moneyval Approves Vatican City State Progress Report

Moneyval – a council responsible for evaluating European member States with respect to anti-money laundering systems - has approved the Progress Report given by Vatican City State. The announcement was made yesterday evening by the Holy See Press Office.

The report details the efforts being made by the Holy See and Vatican City State in combating terrorism financing and money laundering.

"The adoption of the Progress Report confirms the significant efforts undertaken by the Holy See and the Vatican City State to strengthen its legal and institutional framework", Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Under Secretary for Relations with States, and Head of Delegation of the Holy See and Vatican City State to MONEYVAL, stated in a communique.

"The Holy See is fully committed to continuing to improve further the effective implementation of all necessary measures to build a well functioning and sustainable system aimed at preventing and fighting financial crimes."

Since July 2012, three “Motu Propio’ issued by both Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have provided a legal framework to the criminal law system in Vatican City State. The new laws dealt with several updates to the law including financial transparency, supervision and intelligence.

The full progress report, which will be published by the Moneyval Secretariat on Thursday, highlights several legislative and operative achievements in strengthening the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority.